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Gunn had the sinking feeling that the owner was Theodore and the money he’d stolen from the Thistle & Pig had gone into making that pub successful.

Gunn wasn’t much of a charmer, but he soon realized Jocelyn was. With her insistence that the Thistle & Pig was better than ever, and her encouragement for them to return, many of his former patrons promised to be back.

“Ye were brilliant,” Gunn complimented Jocelyn as they entered the inn. “Everyone loved ye, but how could they no’?” he added with a wink.

“I don’t know about that, but I am glad to help. Your place is lovely and deserves to be as successful as it was before.”

“Willna Theodore be surprised to see a full bar when people start to return? I look forward to seeing his expression.”

“What are you going to do about his place?”

“Now that we ken the name of it, when everyone is here, we will pay it a visit. Until then, I will remain mum.”

Inside, Gunn helped Jocelyn out of her cloak. Laughter from down the hall greeted them.

“It sounds like Malcolm has returned. Which reminds me. There’s something I want to ask ye.” Dropping his hands on her waist, he pulled her close.

With her hands on his shoulders, she tipped up her face to meet his eyes. “Yes?” she said, her voice husky, and he kenned she was waiting for him to kiss her. Which he gladly would. He just had one question first.

“In the next day or two everyone is gathering at my estate. Join me?”

Her eyes rounded. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“Dinna be silly.” He tugged her closer. “I want ye there.” He bent and captured her lips in a soft kiss, savoring how she melded into him.

Her arms looped around his neck, and he never wanted her to let go.

They broke the kiss, and she smiled slyly.

“Well, how can I reject that request?”

*

Jocelyn was packing her few belongings in her bag when a knock sounded. “Come in.”

Flora poked her head in. “My lady, ye received a delivery from Madame Gossard.”

Her new gowns. Just in time for her to bring them to Gunn’s estate.

She breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worrying about how she would be received by his friends when they realized she only owned two gowns.

Lizzie had tried to reassure her that they weren’t like that, but it didn’t stop her from worrying still.

“There are multiple packages. It appears that ye will have a full wardrobe.”

Jocelyn watched in amazement as Flora stacked the items on the bed. She hadn’t realized she had ordered so much. Had she?

Lizzie appeared in the doorway. “Your new gowns have arrived I heard. I canna wait to see how they came out.”

Flora curtsied and left the room.

“Go on,” Lizzie urged. “Unbox them.”

They opened package after package. Oohing and aahing after each reveal.

Madame Gossard had outdone herself. Every item was of the highest quality, with unique details that ensured no one else would have the same gown.

“Ye must wear this one this eve when we all gather for dinner.” Lizzie picked up a gown that matched the color of the roses that used to grow in her mother’s garden. “It’s beautiful.”

Jocelyn studied the piece. It was a delicate balance between pink and red, the color rich with matching beading that lined the hem of the sleeves. A pair of slippers to match had the same beading stitched into a rose pattern on the toe.

“Speaking of that. Is everyone gathering here or are we all meeting at Gunn’s estate?”

“There, I believe. They will all have been traveling for some time, and it will be better for them to have time to settle in in one place.”

Jocelyn nodded, worrying her lip.

“Are ye still nervous about meeting everyone? Dinna be. Ye won o’er Gunn. If ye can do that, ye will have no problem with the others.”

“I hope so. I am nervous, but also excited, if that makes sense. You and Gunn talk so fondly of the others that I am looking forward to meeting them.”

“I’m glad. They’re bringing the wee ones, too. ’Twill be a fun time.” She moved to the door. “I need to go and finish packing our stuff. If I leave it to Malcolm everything will be in a rumpled heap when we arrive.” She giggled and then she was gone.

Looking at the pile of gowns, slippers, undergarments, a cloak, and new bonnets, Jocelyn didn’t know how she would get it all packed. The bag she’d arrived with surely wouldn’t accommodate everything.

She would have to track down Gunn and ask if he had an extra travel trunk she could borrow.

She found him in the pub, wiping down a table as he chatted with Thomas. There were more people inside then she’d ever seen since she’d been here. It was a lovely sight to see. A wide smile broke out on her face, she was so happy for Gunn.

Someone called his name, and he sauntered over to the table, laughter erupted, and he clapped the man on the back. Noticing her there, he smiled, threw the towel over his shoulder and approached.

“Can ye believe it?” He nodded his head in the direction of the filled tables. “It’s much the same in the dining room.”

“It’s wonderful. You going out into town to talk to everyone appears to have paid off.”

“Aye. Theodore is seething mad, though he’s trying to mask it. I’m just playing daft like I havena any idea why people are returning.”

She laughed. “Won’t he figure it out?”

Gunn shrugged, his massive shoulders straining the seams of his white linen shirt. “I dinna ken. He hasna yet. Which is good. I dinna want him to ken that I’m aware of his antics until I and my friends show up at the bar he owns. I’m certain he will show his face then.”

She bumped him with her shoulder. “You are evil.”

He tapped her nose. “I am no’, but if I were, I am your evil.” He kissed her on the cheek.

Jocelyn looked around to gage people’s reactions, but no one paid them any attention.

“Did ye need aught?”

“Oh, yes. The modiste delivered my new gowns amongst other things.”

“Great. Just in time. How did they come out?”

“Lovely. They are all beautiful. Her talent is unmatched. Though I believe there are more items than I had spoken to her about.”

Gunn grinned wide. “I wanted to ensure ye had plenty.”

What a sweet gesture. He’d gone to the modiste after she’d been? “That is very kind of you. One problem though.”

He frowned. “What is wrong? I will have her fix it straightaway.”

“No, no. As I said everything is lovely. But I don’t have anything to pack them in. My travel bag is much too small. Do you have an extra travel trunk I can borrow?”

“Borrow? Nay. But I have one ye can have.”

She ducked her head shyly. She still wasn’t used to being treated so well. “Thank you.”

“I’ll bring it up shortly. Will that work?”

“Of course. Whenever is convenient for you.” She turned to leave but spun around again. “What time are we leaving this afternoon?”

“The ride isna long, but I would like to leave around noon. Will that be acceptable?”

Other than packing, she didn’t have any other plans. “Of course.”

He nodded. “I’ll be up shortly with the trunk.”

“Thank you.”

She really felt like she was living in some sort of fairy tale like her father used to tell her when she was young.

This type of relationship was what she had expected with Victor.

Her mood darkened at the thought. Wariness still hung heavy on her shoulders whenever his name entered her mind.

There was a possibility that he could still find her. What would happen then?

Legally, they were still married. What she was doing with Gunn was wrong.

She knew it. Gunn knew it but cared not about the ramifications.

He’d mentioned his friends were well seated and would help her through the situation.

She only hoped they got a chance to work everything out before Victor found her.

Certainly, she didn’t want him to find out about the babe. She wanted him to stay as far away from their baby as possible.

Back in her room, she folded everything neatly so that it would take up as little space as possible in the trunk. Even so, with the number of items, she wondered if one trunk would be enough. It had to be. She would make it work. The last thing she wanted to be deemed was difficult and needy.

“I’ve got your trunk,” Gunn called from the hallway, and she rushed to open the door to let him in. He entered and set the trunk beside the bed, his eyes scanning the piles of folded clothing.

“Thank you. It shouldn’t take me long to get these packed and then I’ll be ready.”

He smiled, and tugged on her arm, pulling her closer. He sat on the trunk and for a moment she worried that he would split it in two with his heft, but it remained intact.

She settled between his open legs, and he rested his hands on her hips. “I’ve been waiting for this all morn.” He pulled her down so she was sitting on his lap and pushed her hair behind her ears, his fingers tracing the shell of her ear, then trailing down the column of her throat.

Her breath hitched as he nuzzled her neck.

“Mmm, lass, ye smell divine.”

“It’s cinnamon soap. From the mercantile,” she said breathlessly.

“Ye smell good enough to eat.”

She gasped at his forwardness.

“But alas, there isna time as we will be leaving shortly.” He lifted her off his lap and stood stiffly, but not before she felt his hardness.

She pressed her lips together to stop from giggling.

“Howe’er, once we get to Leyson? Ye are all mine,” his voice was low, sending shivers down her spine.

Suddenly, she couldn’t wait for them to be on their way.

She looked forward to being all his.